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Bridge: June 22, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:52:19 GMT

In the Platinum Pairs at the Spring NABC (reported in the excellent Daily Bulletin by George Jacobs), West was the Swedish player Peter Fredin who is noted for imaginative card play.When Fredin preempted with four clubs, North doubled for takeout, and Jacobs, South, bid four hearts, doubled by East. Fredin led the nine of diamonds. Sure the lead was a singleton, Jacobs put up dummy’s ace and led the king of trumps. East took his ace, cashed the ace of clubs and led the king of diamonds.PLUS 500Fredin promptly ruffed his partner’s winner to take the king of clubs — if he didn’t, he wouldn’t get it. East’s king of spades scored, so East-West were plus 500 for most of the matchpoints on the deal.West’s defense was accurate. In my view, the result was mostly due to North’s indiscreet entry into the auction. His hand wasn’t strong enough to double and oblige South to bid at the four level. If North prefers a disciplined pass, West wil...

Ask Amy: I finally revealed the secret I’d been keeping, and her reaction was baffling

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:52:19 GMT

Dear Readers: Like you, I’m often curious about what happens to the advice I offer once it leaves my desk, and so I’ve asked readers to send in “updates” to let all of us know how things turned out.The responses have flowed in, and I’m interested and often gratified to learn what impact this experience has had on readers.To refresh all of our memories, I’m running the original Q&A, followed by the update.Dear Amy: I am 58 years old. I was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s two years ago. My friends all know about my diagnosis.My question relates to my sister. She and I had been estranged for almost a decade. Two years ago, I realized that our disagreements were water under the bridge, and we re-established a relationship. She lives several states away and has no contact with my friends.I have never disclosed my diagnosis to her.I don’t want her to come to the conclusion that I broke down the barriers between us because of my illness. I did that because I love her, and not be...

Harriette Cole: How do I tell her there’s no way she could wear those clothes?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:52:19 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend, who is significantly heavier than me, keeps insisting that we’re the same size.I don’t think she means to offend me, but she’s a very large person, and she probably has more than 50 pounds on me. I don’t mind that she’s heavier, but what bothers me is that she keeps trying to wear my clothes and acts surprised when they don’t fit her.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: My boyfriend and I fought about his plan to taunt my ex Advice | Harriette Cole: He refused to pull over, and her new car got damaged Advice | Harriette Cole: My former teacher tells stories about me that aren’t true Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m afraid my son made a huge mistake, and I don’t know what to do Advice | Harriette Cole: It hurt my feelings when he treated me like a buddy I’m not sure how to approach her about this without coming across a...

Ukraine Blocks Journalists From Front Lines With Escalating Censorship

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:52:19 GMT

After Ukrainian forces regained control of the port city of Kherson last November, following eight months of Russian occupation, some journalists entered the liberated city within hours. Without formal permission to be there, they documented the jubilant crowds welcoming soldiers with hugs and Ukrainian flags. Ukrainian officials, who tightly control press access to the front lines, responded by revoking the journalists’ press credentials, claiming that they had “ignored existing restrictions.” In the months since then, as Ukraine has sought to liberate more territory occupied by Russia, the Ukrainian government has intensified its efforts to control the narrative of the war by tightening journalists’ access to the conflict. “After that, things started getting worse. … They have tried to place more control on journalists,” Katerina Sergatskova, editor-in-chief of Zaborona Media, an independent Ukrainian publication, told The Intercept. “Now it’s really hard to make reports from...

At least 5 hospitalized after crash on SR-836 causes small fire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:52:19 GMT

Several victims were rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital after a crash on State Road 836 caused a small fire on the highway, Wednesday night. Officials said at least five people were hospitalized after a collision occurred around 11:50 p.m. on the eastbound lanes of SR-836 near Northwest 42nd Avenue in Miami. One person recorded a video of the scene as they passed by the area. The footage showed a fire on the shoulder of the highway that may have been caused by a motorcycle involved in the crash. Florida Highway Patrol troopers, along with police from the City of Miami and Miami-Dade, responded to the scene. Miami Fire Rescue also provided aid to the victims. Another video from 7News traffic cameras showed the entire highway shut down for several hours. Dispatchers called in the incident and stated 13 people were involved in the collision but that information has yet to be confirmed.Details of the crash are limited as authorities work to determine the cause and investigate the inci...

Police investigating area in NW Miami-Dade after hit-and-run leaves 1 critical

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:52:19 GMT

Miami-Dade Police officers responded to an area in Northwest Miami-Dade after a pedestrian was hit by a car that fled the scene. Officials said around 3:45 a.m. Thursday, someone was struck in the area of Northwest 32nd Avenue and 103rd Street. Once fire rescue crews arrived, they transported the victim to Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. Police do not have a description of the vehicle. Authorities have closed off Northwest 32nd Avenue from 103rd Street as they continue to investigate the incident. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Scholz to NATO: Focus on boosting Ukraine’s military power, not membership

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:52:19 GMT

BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday that next month’s NATO summit should focus on strengthening Ukraine’s military power instead of opening a process for the country to join the transatlantic alliance.In a speech to lawmakers in the Bundestag, Scholz urged fellow NATO leaders to look “soberly” at Ukraine’s bid to join the alliance and argued that Kyiv itself had said “that joining NATO is out of the question” as long as Russia’s war against the country continues to rage on.“Therefore, I advocate that we focus in Vilnius on what is now an absolute priority: Namely, to strengthen the real fighting power of Ukraine,” the chancellor said in reference to a NATO leaders’ summit in the Lithuanian capital on July 11-12.He added that EU and G7 countries would work in parallel on “effective and long-lasting security guarantees” for Ukraine, which should be ensured by continued supplies of modern Wes...

Search for the missing Titanic submersible nears the critical 96-hour mark for oxygen supply

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:52:19 GMT

The race against time to find a submersible that disappeared on its way to the Titanic wreckage site entered a new phase of desperation on Thursday morning as the final hours of oxygen possibly left on board the tiny vessel ticked off the clock.Rescuers have rushed more ships and vessels to the site of the disappearance, hoping underwater sounds they detected for a second straight day might help narrow their search in the urgent, international mission. But the crew had only a four-day oxygen supply when the vessel, called the Titan, set off around 6 a.m. Sunday.Even those who expressed optimism warned that many obstacles remain: from pinpointing the vessel’s location, to reaching it with rescue equipment, to bringing it to the surface — assuming it’s still intact. And all that has to happen before the passengers’ oxygen supply runs out.The full area being searched was twice the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut in waters as deep as 13,200 feet (4,020 meters). Captain J...

Battenfeld: Michelle Wu anything but most ‘transparent’ mayor in history

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:52:19 GMT

Progressive darling Michelle Wu, who promised transparency and honesty when she was elected mayor, is emerging as the least transparent mayor in recent Boston history.She’s got nothing on Marty Walsh and Tom Menino, both old-school mayors who may have had flaws but at least followed public records laws. The late Menino was probably Boston’s most accessible mayor ever.The latest evidence of Wu’s shady relation to the truth is her reaction to the disturbing news that a 32-year-old woman posed as a Boston high school student while enrolled in at least three schools.“We don’t have any evidence at this point of any harm or risk to the young people. Thank goodness,” the ever-smiling Wu said.Really? A woman in her 30s with possible criminal intent enrolls as a student and there’s no “risk” to the kids?How could Wu possibly determine that? Did you ask alarmed parents for their input? The incident clearly raised concerns about the safety and security of students and teachers in B...

The Orioles haven’t been swept in over a year. They credit their culture as the reason.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:52:19 GMT

Two weeks ago, the Orioles woke up early for a day game, coming off two of their worst losses of the season. The previous day, Baltimore was clobbered by the Milwaukee Brewers, a defeat made worse by the extra-inning, walk-off loss the night before.A sweep looked inevitable as the Orioles trailed 3-0 in the seventh inning of the series finale. But they rallied late, as they have many times this year, for the comeback win.The seemingly ordinary victory in early June was more than that, though. It was emblematic of the type of team the Orioles have been since they turned the corner last season and transformed from a rebuilding club into a playoff contender.It’s been more than a year since Baltimore was swept in a series — the longest active streak in the major leagues. Orioles players and manager Brandon Hyde credit their culture, mentality and developing maturity as the reasons why, but there’s one other obvious explanation.“Well, we’re a better team,...